Mop



Patente-d May 11, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOP Henry L. Sweitz, Chicago, 111.

Application February 8, 1943, Serial No. 475,063

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to mops and particularly to those having the strings, or other means affording the desired absorbent body, extended from a relatively long and thin transverse head carried at the lower end of the mop handle.

Mops of the aforesaid character as heretofore constructed have, of course, included the elongated handle made from wood. or the like, the broad Vand iiat mass of strings or the like making up the water absorbing; structure or body, and a clamping or securing means whereby the absorbent body was secured in place and held in the proper form on the lower end of the handle. In some instances such securing means has constituted a pair of opposed clamp elements carried premanently on the lower end ofthe handle and .adapted to be clamped over the upper end of the absorbent body, while in other instances such securing means has included a transverse bar secured within the upper end of the absorbent body and having a socket or other `securing means extended upwardly therefrom for connection with the handle. Such connecting means have invariably been made for metal in prior mops and have been considered to be essential in order to afford a lateral distribution of the strings, strands, or other material of the absorbent body. In other words,v it has been considered desirable to provide a mass of strings 'or other absorbent material which is relatively thin and which is extended for a considerable distance laterally in both directions from the axis Aof the handle. Thus, in order tosupport such a wide and thin mass of absorbent strings or jthe like in a predetermined relation upon the handle, resort has been had heretofore to connecting means such as that hereinbefore described, and since the several elements of such connecting means have been made from metal, such prior constructions have involved excessive material and manufacturing costs. Moreover, it is well known that where such parts of the lconnecting means have been made from steel, the resulting mops have been unsuitable for use about highly finished woodwork or furniture or in those locations, such as in factories or store houses, where explosives are manufactured, processed or stored.

In view of the foregoing it is an important object of this invention to enable the cost of mops of the kind to which this invention relates to be materially reduced; to enable this to be done without the use of metal parts; to enable a wideA and relatively thin head to be afforded on the upper end of the absorbent body of strings, strands or the like solely through the use of textile fabric stitched with thread; to enable such a fabric, head to embody substantial resistance to bending; and to enable such a fabric head to embody a socket formed from fabric and into which the lower end of a rod-like mop handle may be inserted. l

It is recognized of course that the Wide and thin head of a mop should remain in substantially a predetermined relation to the mop handie during use of the mop, and a further object of this invention is to enable this to be. accomplished in a simple and expeditious manner where the head of the mop as well as the securing means are made by forming and stitching of textile fabric. Further objects related to the foregoing are to enable a fabric mop head and the associated fabric securing means to be so constructed and so related to the mop handle that the textile fabric cooperates with the mass of strings, strands or other absorbent material to maintain the desired wide and thin transverse form of the mophead; to enable these cooperating portions of thefabric and the absorbent body to cooperate with the handle in maintaining the head of the mop in the desired relation to the handle during use of the mop; and to enable such a wide and thin mophead to be constructed and secured in place on the handle through means which are wholly nonmetallic in character.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing which, by way of illustration, shows preferred embodiments and the principle thereofl and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle.' Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a mop em.- bodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental sectional view taken on an enlarged scale along the line 2-2 of Fig. vl;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig.-'4 is an enlarged fragmental elevational view similar to Fig. l and illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmental side elevational view taken from the line 5--5 in Fig. 4.

In the form chosen for disclosure herein the invention is embodied in a mop having a rodlike handle I made from wood or like material with a, Inophead II at its lower end which serves to support an elongated body I2 of absorbent material such as cotton strings, strands or the like. The absorbent body I2 is relatively wide and thin as will be evident from a comparison of Figs. l and 2 of the drawing, and the head I I is arranged to support and maintain the upper end of the absorbent b-ody I2 in this relatively wide and thin form. In accordance with the present invention this purpose is attained through means which are wholly nonrnetallic in character, thereby adapting the mop of the present invention for use in locations where the presence of metal and particularly of steel is considered to be objectionable. Thus t-he head II is formed from two sheets or layers I4 of relatively heavy textile fabric, as indicated in Fig. 2, and these layers I4 of fabric are so formed and associated with the upper end of the absorbent body I2 that the upper end portion of the body I2 is held in the proper wide and thin form and in position on the lower end of the handle I0. In accomplishing this function the two layers I4 of fabric are disposed respectively on opposite or against faces of the upper end of the absorbent body I2 and the absorbent body is connected to the fabric by a plurality of spaced parallel rows I6 of stitching extended transverseli with respect to the absorbent body and extendingr through the two layers of fabric and the intermediate portion of the absorbent body I2. The two layers I4 of fabric are also foianed to afford means for connecting the head II to the lower end of the handle and this object is attained by forming the layers I4 of fabric to afford an upwardly facing socket I8 into which the lower end of the handle I0 may be extended.

In practice the two layers or pieces I4 of fabric are secured together about their side edges prior to the mounting of the absorbent body I2 between the two layers, and to this en d the two layers I4 are cut to substantially the form shown in elevation in Fig. 1, there being, however, extended edges along the side thereof to afford material whereby internal seams may be formed to connect the two layers or pieces I4 together. Thetwo pieces of materiaLor blanks, which are thus provided also have extended portions at the upper and lower vedges thereof so that inturned hems may be formed along the lower edges of the Pieces I4 of material. The line of stitching which is utilized in forming each upper hem 2li is indicated at 2G in Fig. l, while the line of stitching utilized in forming each of the lower hems 22 is indicated at 22' in Figs. 1 and 2. After the hems 20 .and 22 have been formed along the upper and lower edges respectively of the two pieces I4 of fabric, these pieces are placed face to face with the hems on the outer faces thereof, and the side edges of the two pieces I4 of fabric are sewed together along lines of stitching 24, Fig. 3, to thereby form what will eventually be internal seams, the assembly formed by the two pieces I4 of fabric at this time being what may be termed an inside-out-relationship.

The fabric assembly which is thus formed is then turned to its right-side-out relationship so that it is in condition for the mounting of the upper end of the absorbent body I2 therein. In the present case the absorbent body is illustrated as being formed by folding a mass of elongated cotton strings or the like at their midpoints so that the folded portions of the strings define the upper edge of the absorbent body. It will be evident, of course, that such folding is a mere matter of convenience, for in sorne instances the strings might be made shorter, and the ends of the strings may in such an instance define the upper edge of the absorbent body I2. In any event, the upper edge of the absorbent body is inserted into the relatively narrow, downwardly facing pocket defined between the two lower hems 22 so that the upper edge of the absorbent body I2 is engaged with the upper limits of the receiving pocket along the upper 1ine of the pocket, as indicated at II in Fig. 1. The two layers of fabric which form the opposite sides of the pocket are then pressed together, as beneath `the presser foot of a sewing machine, and the several spaced lines IS of stitching are put in place. While the surfaces of the fabric pieces I4 at and between the lines IS of stitching are in the present. instance shown as being relatively fiat, it will be recognized that in most instances the thread tension used in the making of the lines I5 of stitching will be such as to produce a quilting effect with a slight bulging between the lines I6 of stitching. With this arrangement the compressed mass of strings or other absorbent material between the lines I5 of stitching serves to space the connected layers I4 of fabric apart and to cooperate .therewith in imparting a reasonable degree of rigidity to the head II of the mop. It will be understood, of course, that the head II, in the region of the stitching I6, may be bent to a slight degree in use, but this is not objectionable.

When the sewing of the fabric has been completed, the socket I8, being formed from fabric, is relatively bendable back and forth, that' is to the right or left as viewed in Fig. 2, but the arrangement is such that after the lower end of the handle I0 has been secured in position in the socket I8, the relative bending of the socket to the right or left with relation to the head II is limited to a relatively small and. unobjectionable amount. In attaining this result it' is desirable that the socket I8 have a relatively snug engagement with the handle III throughout a substantial distance longitudinally of the handle and to promote such snug engagement, I preferably form lines of stitching 26 through the two layers I4 as shown in Fig. 1, the lines 26 of stitching being formed after the upper end of the absorbent body I2 has been secured in position. These lines 2 6 of stitching are in the present instance shown as being extended downwardly along the sloping upper edges at 26' and then along the end edges of the head I I as indicated at 26, but this is not essential.

When the lower end of the handle I0 is inserted into the socket I8, its lower` end is engaged with the upper edge ofl the absorbent body I2, this upper end edge serving to define the inner or lower end of thesocket I8. In the present instance the lower end of the handle has a transverse notch 28 formed therein so that the arms so formed on Opposite sides of the notch 2a may extend downwardly along the inner surface of the socket for the maximum distance in contact with the inner surface of the fabric of the socket and the head. The handle I0 is held in place in such a manner with relation to the socket I8 that the fabric I4 in the region indicated at 32 in Fig. 2 is fairly taut, for by this arrangement it is possible to materially restrict the range of lateral bending movement, Fig. 2, of the handle with respect to the head I I. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the desired connection between the handle and the fabric of the socket is attained by a transverse peg 34 which is extended through aligned openings in the handle and the fabric walls of the socket I8. It will be understood, of course, that where the presence ofmetal is not objectionable, this connection may be attained by other means such for example as a metallic peg or metallic tacks or nails. With the walls of the socket I8 thus secured to the handle I so as to press the lower end of the handle firmly against the upper edge of the absorbent body I2, it will be apparent that lateral bending of the handle I0 in one direction or the other as viewed in Fig. 3 will serve to tension the fabric at the point 32 on one side or the other of the head II and this will limit the amount of such bending. Lateral bending of the handle in the other direction with respect to the head II that is to the right or left as viewed in Fig. 1 is substantially limited by the form of the head and the manner in which it is associated with the socket I8; and by reason of the engagement of the lower end of the handle I0 with the upper edge of the body I2 above the lines I5 of stitching, any downward force on the handle is transmitted to the beam-like structure afforded in the head II by the cooperative action of the fabric, the stitching Ic and the intermediate portions of the body I2.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated an alternative construction wherein a different form of fastening means is employed for securing the handle Il) in position in the socket I8. In this embodiment of the invention a relatively strong cord 36 is wound or lashed about the handle II) as indicated at 38 so that the two ends of the cord 36 may be extended downwardly from the point of fastening 38. One end of the cord 36 is extended into the inside of the socket I8 and is threaded through a lateral opening in the fabric wall of the socket. 'Ihis end is then extended about the out'side of the wall of the socket and is threaded through another opening in the fabric wall 0f the socket on the opposite side thereof. This end of the cord 36 is then extended upwardly and is connected to the other end of the cord 36 as by a knot 40. Through this arrangement the handle I0 and the socket I8 of the mophead may be secured together with the lower end of the handle I0 drawn tightly against the upper end edge of the absorbent body I2.

From the foregoing description it would be apparent that the present invention enables a mop having a wide and relatively thin head to be produced from the material which is wholly nonmetallic in character, and this end is attained in a manner which requires the use of a minimum length of string or other absorbent material. It will also be evident that this invention enables the wide and relatively thin head of the mop to be formed from a textile fabric such as relatively heavy canvas, and the construction and arrangement is such that this textile fabric may also serve to form an upwardly opening socket for the reception of the usual rod-like handle. In accordance with this invention the fabric mophead and the associated fabric securing means or socket are so constructed and so related that lthese parts cooperate with each other vin main'- taining the wide and thin form of the mophead and in maintaining the mophead in substantially the desired relationship to the handle. 'It will also be evident that the present invention minimizes the material required for the production o'f mops, and since such materials are nonmetallic in character, the cost of the material and the cost of the manufacturing operations are substantially less than with prior mops of this general character.

Hence, while I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a mop, an elongated handle having a lower end, an elongated body of absorbent material arranged so as to be relatively wide vand thin at one Yend thereof which constitutes the upper end of the mop, two layers of relatively heavy textile fabric disposed against opposite faces of the upper end of said body, a plurality of spaced rows of stitching extending transversely of said body and extended through said layers of fabric and the intermediate upper end portion of said absorbent body, said layers of textile fabric being extended upwardly beyond said body and being stitched together to afford an upward; ly opening socket adapted to snugly receive said lower end of said handle, said handle being inserted into said socket, and means acting between the fabric of said socket and said handle and securing said handle in said socket with said lower end of said handle held firmly against the upper end of said body.

2. In a mop, an elongated handle having a lower end with a transverse downwardly facing notch therein, an elongated body of. absorbent material arranged so as to be relatively wide and thin at one end thereof which constitutes the l `layers `of fabric and the intermediate upper end portion of said absorbent body, said rows of stitching being extended transversely of said body, said layers of textile fabric being extended upwardly beyond said body and being stitched together to afford an upwardly opening socket adapted to snugly receive said lower end of said handle, said lower end Iof said handle being inserted into said socket with said notch embracing the upper end edge of said body, and means acting between the fabric of said socket and said handle and securing said handle in said socket with said notched lower end of said handle embracing and held firmly against said upper end edge of said body.

3. In a mop, an elongated handle having a lower end, an elongated body of absorbent ma terial arranged so as to be relatively wide and thin at one end thereof which constitutes the upper end of the mop, two layers of relatively heavy textile fabric disposed against opposite faces of the upper end of said body, a plurality of rows of stitching extended through said layers of fabric and the intermediate upper end portion of said absorbent body, said rows of stitching being extended transversely of said body, said layers of textile fabric being extended upwardly beyond said body and being stitched together to afford an upwardly opening socket adapted to snugly receive said lower end of said handle, said handle being inserted into said socket and firmly against the upper end edge of said body, and a securing cord acting between the fabric of said socket and said handle and securing said handle in said socket with said lower end of said handle firmly seated against said upper end edge of said layers of fabric and above the uppermost line of said transverse stitching.

4. In a mop, an elongated handle having a lower end, an elongated flexible body of absorbent material arranged so as to be relatively wide and thin at one end thereof which constitutes the upper end of the mop, two layers of relatively heavy textile fabric disposed against opposite faces of the upper end of said body, a plurality of spaced rows of stitching extending transversely of said body and extended through said layers of fabric and the intermediate upper end portion of said absorbent body, said layers of textile fabric being extended upwardly beyond said body and being stitched together to afford an upwardly opening socket adapted to snugly receive said lower end of said handle, said handle being inserted into said socket, and means extending through the fabric of said socket and transversely into said handle and securing said handle in said socket.

5. In a mop, an elongated handle having a lower end, an elongated flexible body of absorbent material arranged so as to be relatively wide and thin at one end thereof which constitutes the upper end of the mop, two layers of relatively heavy textile fabric disposed against opposite faces of the upper end of said body, a plurality f rows of stitching extended transversely of said body and through said layers of fabric and the intermediate upper end portion of said absorbent body to firmly compress said upper end portion between said layers of fabric, said layers of textile fabric being extended upwardly beyond said body and being stitched together to afford an up- CTl wardly opening socket adapted to snugly receive said lower end of said handle, said handle being inserted into said socket and firmly against the upper end edge of said absorbent body, and fastening means acting between the fabric of said socket and said handle and securing said handle in said socket.

6. In a mop, an elongated body of absorbent materia1 arranged so as to be relatively wide and thin at one end thereof which constitutes the upper end of the mop, two layers of relatively heavy textile fabric respectively disposed against opposite faces of the upper end of said body, a plurality of spaced rows of stitching extended transversely of said body and through said layers of fabric and the intermediate upper end portion of said absorbent body, and said layers of textile fabric being extended upwardly beyond said body and being stitched together to afford an upwardly opening socket the inner end of which is defined by the upper end edge of said absorbent body and in which socket the lower end of a mop handle may be inserted and secured with the lower end of such handle firmly engaged with said upper end edge of said absorbent body.

7. In a mop, an elongated body of absorbent material arranged so as to be relatively wide and thin at one end thereof which constitutes the upper end of the mop, two layers of relatively heavy textile fabric disposed against opposite faces of the upper end of said body, a plurality of spaced rows of stitching extended transversely of said body and through said layers of fabric and the intermediate upper end portion of said absorbent body so as to firmly compress said upper portion along said rows of stitching, and said layers of textile fabric being extended upwardly beyond said body and being stitched together to afford an upwardly opening socket the inner end of which is defined by the upper end edge of said absorbent body and in which socket the lower end of a mop handle may be inserted and secured.

HENRY L. SWEITZ. 

